New English Translation
Exodus 27:21
21In the tent of meeting outside the curtain that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons are to arrange it from evening to morning before the Lord. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for generations to come.
Exodus 27:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the Lord: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
- New International Version (NIV)In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.
- English Standard Version (ESV)In the tent of meeting, outside the veil that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their generations by the people of Israel.
- New King James Version (NKJV)In the tabernacle of meeting, outside the veil which is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel.
Context of Exodus 27:21
19All the utensils of the tabernacle used in all its service, all its tent pegs, and all the tent pegs of the courtyard are to be made of bronze. 20“You are to command the Israelites that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, so that the lamps will burn regularly. In the tent of meeting outside the curtain that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons are to arrange it from evening to morning before the Lord. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for generations to come.
Read all of Exodus 27Exodus 27:21 word by word
בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵד֩ מִח֨וּץ לַפָּרֹ֜כֶת אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הָעֵדֻ֗ת יַעֲרֹךְ֩ אֹת֨וֹ אַהֲרֹ֧ן וּבָנָ֛יו מֵעֶ֥רֶב עַד־בֹּ֖קֶר לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה חֻקַּ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ לְדֹ֣רֹתָ֔ם מֵאֵ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- In the tabernacleאֹ֫הֶל'ôhel · tentH168
- of the congregationמוֹעֵדmô‛êd mô‛êd mô‛âdâh · meetingH4150
- withoutחוּץchûts chûts · outsideH2351
- the vailפָּרֹ֫כֶתpôreketh · curtainH6532
- before the testimonyעֵדוּת‛êdûth · testimonyH5715
- Aaronאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
- and his sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- shall orderעָרַךְ‛ârak · to arrangeH6186
- it from eveningעֶ֫רֶב‛ereb · eveningH6153
- to morningבֹּ֫קֶרbôqer · morningH1242
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- a statuteחֻקָּהchûqqâh · statuteH2708
- for everעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: enduringH5769
- unto their generationsדּוֹרdôr dôr · generationH1755
- on the behalf of the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
Cross-references for Exodus 27:21
- Exodus 29:10“You are to present the bull at the front of the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons are to put their hands on the head of the bull.
- Leviticus 3:8He must lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it before the Meeting Tent, and the sons of Aaron must splash its blood against the altar’s sides.
- Numbers 8:9You are to bring the Levites before the tent of meeting and assemble the entire community of the Israelites.
- Exodus 26:31“You are to make a special curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen; it is to be made with cherubim, the work of an artistic designer.
- Exodus 40:3You are to place the ark of the testimony in it and shield the ark with the special curtain.
- Exodus 16:34Just as the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the Testimony for safekeeping.
- Exodus 25:16You are to put into the ark the testimony that I will give to you.
- Exodus 30:8When Aaron sets up the lamps around sundown he is to burn incense on it; it is to be a regular incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations.
- 1 Samuel 3:3and the lamp of God had not yet been extinguished. Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord as well; the ark of God was also there.
- 2 Chronicles 13:11They offer burnt sacrifices to the Lord every morning and every evening, along with fragrant incense. They arrange the Bread of the Presence on a ritually clean table and light the lamps on the gold lampstand every evening. Certainly we are observing the Lord our God’s regulations, but you have rejected him.
- Malachi 2:7For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge of sacred things, and people should seek instruction from him because he is the messenger of the Lord who rules over all.
- Matthew 4:16the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, and on those who sit in the region and shadow of death a light has dawned.”
- Luke 12:35“Get dressed for service and keep your lamps burning;
- John 5:35He was a lamp that was burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice greatly for a short time in his light.
- 2 Corinthians 4:6For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.
- 2 Peter 1:19Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Commentaries on Exodus 27:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21The tabernacle of the congregation - The place where all the assembly of the people were to worship, where the God of that assembly was pleased to reside, and to which, as the habitation of their king and protector, they were ever to turn their faces in all their adorations. Before the testimony - That is, the ark where the tables of the covenant were deposited. See Exodus 25:16. Aaron and his sons - These and their descendants being the only legitimate…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21The tabernacle of the congregation - More literally, the tent of meeting. This is the first occurrence of this designation of the tabernacle, and the idea connected with it is that of Yahweh meeting with either Moses, or the priests, or (in a few cases) with the people gathered into a congregation at the entrance of the tent. Without the rail, which is before the testimony - i. e. the holy place (see Exodus 25:16).Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-21Verses 20-21 The pure oil signified the gifts and graces of the Spirit, which all believers receive from Christ, the good Olive, and without which our light cannot shine before men. The priests were to light the lamps, and tend them. It is the work of ministers, by preaching and expounding the Scriptures, which are as a lamp, to enlighten the church, God's tabernacle upon earth. Blessed be God, this light is not now confined to the Jewish tabernacle, but…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21the Tent of Meeting: The expression Tent of Meeting sometimes refers to the tabernacle tent. In these cases, Tent of Meeting and tabernacle mean the same thing. In addition, 33:7–11 also mentions a temporary tent called the Tent of Meeting. This tent was set up outside the camp before the tabernacle was built. See study note on 40:2.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2120-21. pure oil olive beaten--that is, such as runs from the olives when bruised and without the application of fire. for the light ... Aaron and his sons--were to take charge of lighting it in all time coming.Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 27:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries